Silica-Based Materials in Methane Conversion: A Two-Decade Bibliometric and Literature Review (1995–2022)

The potential of silica (SiO₂)-based materials in environmental remediation and energy production, particularly in the conversion of methane (CH₄) with carbon dioxide (CO₂) to fuels (synthesis gas, mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen) via dry reforming of methane (DRM), cannot be overemphasized. In this study, the significance of fibrous SiO₂ in minimizing waste and optimizing resource utilization through the exploration of CO₂ applications, its environmental consequences, the assessment of commercialization prospects, and the role of silica-based materials in environmental remediation are comprehensively presented. Analysis of research documents spanning from 1995 to 2022 is presented with an examination of 3122 Keywords Plus (ID) and 1211 Author's Keywords from these publications, which revealed trending themes, major funding institutions, prolific countries, notable authors, and leading journals. The findings underscore China’s dominance as the most productive country in terms of publications and citations (101, 2127), closely trailed by Iran (55, 688), India (47, 675), the USA (39, 864), Japan (26, 342), France (21, 425), Germany (18, 816), Spain (17, 309), South Korea (16, 239), and Malaysia (12, 282). The investigation inveils that implementing renewable energy-powered direct air capture demands a comprehensive strategy, addressing the potential negative impacts of SiO₂ nanoparticles and their interaction with biological components and environmental elements. This study elucidates the potential applications and commercialization prospects for fibrous SiO₂ materials, especially their incorporation into carbon capture and utilization technologies, thereby expanding the range of carbon–neutral solutions.